Chorley 1-0 Stockport County (15/09/2015)

Written by Mark Locke

Published on Tuesday, 15 September 2015 23:56

Tuesday September 15th, 7.45pm

League

Chorley recorded only their second win in five home games this season, but Darren Stephenson’s 26th minute strike made it three wins on the bounce against the former Football League Division One (now the Championship) side.

Before the kick-off there was an impeccably observed minutes silence for former Chorley captain John Turner who passed away recently. John played for the club between 1969 and 1975, playing alongside s notable Magpies from the archives such as Graham Barrow, Mickey Worswick, Mick Wearmouth, Ronnie Pickering and Paul Mariner.

The only goal of the game started on the right wing with a Mark Ross cross to the left. The impressive Andy Bond received the ball and moved it quickly to Stephenson who drove the ball between ex-Magpie Danny Hurst and his near post.

Before the goal the game started at a tremendous pace with both teams looking to attack and neither side giving an inch.

The Magpies has a free-kick in the opening minute but Hurst gathered Bond’s delivery then Hine shot over from 18 yards following good play between Marcus Carer and Bond.

On the quarter of the hour mark Stephenson shot wide of the post.

Sam Ashton was called into action, punching clear a Kirby free-kick, then Hurst showed a strong right hand to denied Carver.

After Stephenson put the Magpies into a deserved lead Bond should have added a second from a Hine cross but his effort was deflected over for a corner.

Stephenson tormented Stockport all night and was unlucky to only net once, firing wide then hitting a weak shot straight at Hurst as the first half drew to a close.

After the interval Stockport moved forward first but Aston denied Hazeldine twice then Evans fired over as County look to find a way onto the scoresheet.

Jake Cottrell blasted over from 20 yards then Keiran Charnock failed to direct a header from Bond with Hurst gathering comfortably from the former County defenders downward nod.

As the game progressed beyond the hour mark County’s efforts grew more frantic while the Magpies looked strong on the counter.

Former Accrington loanee Kayode Odejai was a handful all night but the Magpies backline looked to be back to their best to keep the visitors out.

Evans’ trickery took the winger passed everyone but his cutback was cut back too much and flew behind three County attackers to safety.

Mark Ross blocked a Ledsham effort then Hurst pulled off a fantastic save to deny Dale Whitham from a Bond delivery.

As the minutes ticked closer to 90, the game became more and more frantic with County pressed for a leveller. Two back-to-back goalmouth scrambles in Ashton’s area came to nothing then James Dean fired wide from distance with an early touch from the bench.

The referee was obviously enjoying the action and decided to add an additional five minutes to the game and both sides could have netted during this time.

Hine twice and Bond had efforts blocked while at the other end Ashton pulled off a stunning save with plus-four on the clock, palming away a Thorniley header off the line with virtually every player stood in or around his six-yard-box!

So, three games played against Stockport on the National League now, three wins, six goals for and non-conceded - who’d have thought that possible in the not too distant past?